Excitation control system



June 20, 1950 Filed Jan. 24, 1949 M. A. EDWARDS ETAL EXCITATION CONTROL SYSTEM 75 aww/WIW@ 2 Sheets-Sheet l Thei- Attm June 20, 1950 M. A. EDWARDS Erm. 2,512,317

EXCITATION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1949 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Patented June 20, 1950 EXCITATION CONTROL SYSTEM Martin A. Edwards, Scotia, and Charles F. Bauersteld, Schenectady, N. Y., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,482

4 claims. l

Our invention relates to current regulating circuits for electric power systems. More particularly, it relates to automatic excitation control circuits for electric motors in electric power systems of the type having a suitable source of driving energy, such as a. prime mover or an electric motor, rotating electrical generator coupled mechanically to the driving device, and a motor component coupled electrically to the gen erator and mechanically to a suitable load.

Power systems of the type described are frequently applied to Diesel-electric locomotives and the like. In applications of this type, when the prime mover is an engine of the internal combustion type, such as a Diesel engine, it is desirable to protect the engine from overload conditions by limiting the output of the engine to a safe value with respect to the design of the engine. Devices well known in the art and outside the scope of the present invention may be provided to limit the output power which may be taken from the engine by a loading generator. If the driving device, on the other hand, is an electric motor, energized from an electrical bus, it is again desirable to place limitations by methods well known in the art, on the amount of power which may be taken from the motor. Hence, regardless of the form of the source of driving energy which may be provided in an electric power system of the type described, a limitation exists in the amount of power which is safely or economically available from said driving device.

In the conversion of mechanical power from a driving device into electrical power by use of an electrical generator, it is well known that such power may be made available and utilized at various voltage and current levels, the product of these two quantities representing approximately the power delivered by the generator. Unless provision is made to regulate the current supplied by the generator to a. load, such as a motor, it is entirely possible to overload the driving device. Furthermore, if extremes of current, either relatively small or large values, are permitted to be drawn, the products of such currents and their corresponding voltage values, which represent approximately the power output of the generator, will be relatively small with respect to the power available from the driving device, and it may be said that the degree of utilization of such power is relatively poor.

In general, it is desirable to utilize power from the generator at the maximum voltage available from the generator at the particular speed at in such a manner as to operate an electric power system at the point of maximum utilization. Our apparatus as herein embodied ccntrols current in an electric power system by shunting the ileld exciting winding of the motor component to cause the load current drawn by the motor automatically to remain substantially constant within a relatively narrow band. Our apparatus additionally accomplishes this result in a plurality of relatively small steps rather than in one large and therefore relatively diet continuous step.

Accordingly, it ls an object of our invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for regulating the current in an electric power` system.

It isanother object of our invention to prrvide a new and improved automatic excitation control circuit for the motor component ci electric power system.

It is a further object of our invention to pro vide a, new and improved apparatus for operating an electric power system at a point of maximum utilization with respect to the driving and generating devices.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of our invention, we provide magnetic devices for amplifying a relatively small signal representing the current in an electric power system, the outputs of said magnetic amplifying devices being utilized in electrical relays to control a motor-operated rheostatic device connected in shunt relation with the series eld of the motor component of the power system.

For a. better understanding of our invention, attention is now directed to the following description taken in connection with the figures of the accompanying drawing. Fig. l represents a bi-phase magnetic ampliiler; Fig. 2 represents certain operating characteristics of the amplifier arrangement shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents an electric power system together with a control circuit to accomplish automatic excitation control as previously described; and Figs. 4, 5, a and 6 represent certain operating characteristics of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, there is shown a bi-phase magnetic ampliiler, the description of which will assist in understanding 'our-invention. The function of such an ampliiier is to deliver an output voltage across a load impedance, which may be the magnetic coil of an electric relay, the output voltage being substantially increased in magnitude with respect to a relatively small input signal. Energy for the ampliiieris obtained from an alternating current source'al across which is connected the primary winding 2 of a transtormer 3. The terminal points 4 and 5 of secondary winding 8 of transformer 3 are connected to separate windings I and 8 of a saturable reactor device 9. 'Ihe opposite terminals of windings I and 8 are connected to rectifying devices I0 and II` which are preferably of the dry-plate type. Rectifying devices I0 and II are in turn connected to one terminal of a load device I2, the other terminal oi* which is connected to the center tap i3 of transformer winding 4. A capacitor I4 is connected in shunt relation across the terminals of load I2 for the purpose of dampening the ripple component of the voltage impressed on load I2. Saturable reactor 9 is provided with -a plurality of signal windings such as windings I5, I6 and I'I. A signal to be ampliiied is impressed across terminals I8 of signal winding I5.

Referring to Fig. 2, with the arrangement as thus far described, if a signal is impressed across terminals I8 of signal winding I5, an output voltage as represented by curve I9 is impressed across the terminals of load I2. It will be noted that the useful range ofthe amplifier is considerably limited, since a. relatively large output voltage is impressed across load I2 when the input signal across terminals I8 is zero. Ii a suitable bias is applied to the system, the useful range of the magnetic amplifier may be increased. Basing may be accomplished by use of a bias circuit comprising a, bias signal Winding I5 of saturable reactor 9, an adjustable resistor 2l, and a. suitable source of biasing potential such as a battery 22. With the addition of a bias circuit, the characteristic of the amplifier is as represented by curve 23 of Fig. 2. The operating characteristic of the amplier may be further modiiied, frequently to advantage by the use of either rpositive or negative feedback in the system. Use of positive feed- 1sack tends to increase the sensitivity of the amplifier, as represented by characteristic 26a of Fig. 2, while use of negative feedback tends to increase the stability of the amplifier, as represented by characteristic 26h of Fig. 2. Introduction of feedback may be accomplished by use ci a feed-back circuit 24 comprising a feed-back signal winding I'I of saturable reactor 9 and a voltage dividing resistor 25 connected in shunt relation with load I2.

In Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawing there is represented an embodiment of our invention as applied to an electric power system which may be of the type used in connection with selfpropelled traction vehicles. The electric power system comprises a source of generator driving power 2l which is represented as an internal combustion engine, an electrical generator 28 coupled mechanically to driving source 21. and

an electric motor 29 having an armature winding and a series iield exciting winding 32 connected across the terminals oi generator 28. While we show only a. single such motor in order to simplify the drawings and explanations, it is well known that a plurality of such motors and their associated control circuits may be and usually is employed in a system of the type to be described. Motor 29 is suitably coupled to a. load 38, which may be, for example, the gearing and traction wheels of a self-propelled traction vehicle. A shunt 3| is connected in series lwith generator 28 and motor 29 for the purpose of measuring the current supplied by generator 28 and utilized by motor 29. In parallel relation with series iield 32 of the motor 29 is connected a held-shunting circuit comprising a iixed resistance 33 and a variable resistance 34', the latter being adjusted mechanically by means of a. reversible electric motor 35. Energy for electric motor 35 is supplied by direct current source 36. Energy is supplied to motor 35 through relay contacts 38 or 39 of electrical relays 40 and 4I to cause either forward or reverse rotation of motor 35.

Magnetic coils 42 and 43 of relays 48 and 4I are supplied with energy from direct current source 38 to close. respectively, relay contacts 38 and 39. However, the flow of energy from direct current source 36 to magnetic coils 42 and 43 is controlled by contacts 44 and 45, respectively, of a pair of relays 48 and 4l. Magnetic coils 48 and 49 of relays 46 and 41 comprise the principal load impedances of a pair of magnetic amplier circuits 58 and 5I oi' the type previously described and diagrammatically represented in Fig. 1. Energy for magnetic ampliiiers 58 and 5I is obtained from an alternating current source I across which is connected the primary winding 2 of a transformer 3. The terminals of windings 'I and 8 of a pair of saturable reactor devices 9 are connected to terminals 4 and 5, respectively, of secondary winding 8 of transforme; 3. The opposite ends of windings 'i and 8 are connected respectively to like terminals of a pair of rectiiier devices lil and Il which are preferably of the dry-plate type. The opposite terminals of rectifiers I0 and II are connected together and, in turn, the common terminals of rectiers Il) and Il of magnetic amplilier 50 are connected to one terminal of magnetic coil 48 of relay 46 and, similarly, the common terminals of rectiiiers I8 and II of magnetic ampliiier 5I are connected to one terminal of magnetic coil 49 of relay 41. The opposite terminals of coils 48 and 49 are connected to center-tap I3 of secondary winding 6 of transformer 3. A capacitor I4 is connected across each of the magnetic coils 48 and 49 for the purpose of dampening the ripple component of the voltages impressed across coils 48 and 49.

Biasing is supplied to magnetic amplifiers 58 and 5I by means of a bias circuit 52. Use is made of secondary winding 6 of the transformer 3 to supply alternating current energy to a full-wave rectifying device 55, preferably of the dry-plate type. Compensation for the eiect of variations in the magnitude of the voltage of the alternating current source I is provided by use of a voltage-dropping resistor 56 and a saturable reactor 51 connected in series across terminals 4 and 5 of secondary winding 6. Terminals 53 and 54 of rectiiier 55 are connected in series with a linear reactor 83 across point 5 of transformer winding 6 and the common terminal of saturable reactor 51 and resistor 56. Compensation for the effect of frequency variations in alternating currentsomee I isprovidcdbytheuseoilinear reactor 83. The direct current voltage for bias circuit l2 appears across terminals 58 and 58 lo! rectifier 8l. A capacitor 88 is connected across terminals 58 and 38 of rectiner 55 for the purpose of dampenlng the ripple component of the direct current voltage across terminals Il and 58. Bias circuit 55 comprises further an adjustable resistor 8I connected across terminals 58 and 58 of rectiiier 55 and a series combination comprising resistors 82, 83 and 84 also connected across terminals 58 and 58 of rectifier 55. Bias winding I8 of magnetic amplifier 58 is connected across adjustable resistor 83. and bias winding I8 of magnetic amplifier 5I is connected across adjustable resistor 84.

Feedback is supplied to magnetic ampliners 58 and I by use of a pair of feed-back circuits 85 and 66. Feed-back circuit 65 comprises an adjustable resistor 81 and fixed resistor 88 connected in series across magnetic coil 48, and a feed-back winding I1 of saturable reactor 9 connected across a portion of resistor 88. Similarly, feed-back circuit 86 comprises adjustable resistor 69 and fixed resistor 10 connected in series across magnetic coil 48, and a feed-back winding I1 of saturable reactor 8 connected across a portion of resistor 18.

The main signal windings I5 of saturable reactors 9 are connected in parallel relation across the measuring terminals 1I of shunt 3| in the circuit of generator 28 and motor 28.

To assist in the understanding of the operation of theautomatic regulating system as diagrammatically represented in Fig. 3, consideration will first be given to that portion of the system comprising magnetic amplifiers 58 and 5I, including alternating current source I, bias circuit 52, feedback circuits 65 and 86. Let it be assumed that a current is flowing in shunt 3i and that therefore a signal voltage of relatively small magnitude exists across terminals 1I of shunt 3 I. Curve 12 of Fig.4 represents tire operating characteristic of magnetic ampliiier 58, the action of which is to effect "shunting of series field 32 of motor 28 as will be subsequently explained. Curve 13 of Fig. 4 represents the operating characteristic of magnetic amplifier 5I, the action of which is to effect unshunting" of motor ileld 32. As the signal voltage across shunt terminals 1l increases in magnitude due to an increase in current through shunt 3i, the voltages impressed across the load impedances of magnetic amplifiers 58 and 5I, in particular magnetic relay coils 48 and 49, follow characteristic curves 12 and 13, respectively, of Fig. 4.

As the current signal is increased to a value corresponding to point 14 on curve 12, pickup or closing of relay 46 of magnetic ampliiler 50 occurs. As the current signal is increased to a value corresponding to point 15 on curve 13. pickup of relay 41 of magnetic amplifier 5I occurs. Further increase in the current signal results in no further action oi' the relays 46 and 41. Decrease in the current signal results in action of an opposite sense, namely dropout or opening of relay 41 at a signal value corresponding to point 16 of curve 13, and dropout of relay 46 at point 11 on curve 12. Further decrease in the current signal results in no further action of relays 46 and 41. Adjustment of bias-adjusting resistors 6I and 82 serves to shift both characteristic curves 12 and 13 of Fig. 4 to the left or right together, thereby decreasing or increasing the values of current signal at which relays and 41 operate. Adjustment of bias-adjusting resistor 88 causes the characteristic. curve 12 to sluit to the leit or right, thereby causing a decrease or increase in the values oi current at which relay 48 operates. Similarly, adjustment of resistor 84 causes a decrease or increase in the values of current at which relay 41 operates.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 5, in which curve 18 represents the volt-ampere characteristic of generator 28 as driven at a particular constant speed by engine 21. The portion of curve 18 lying between points 18 and 88 represents the voltage limitation of generator 28. while the portion oi' curve 18 lying between points 8i and 82 represents the current limitation of generator 28. The portion of curve 18 lying between points 88 and 8i represents the power output limitation of engine 21 imposed on the system by loadlimiting devices customarily used with such engines. As previously described, point 88 represents the point of maximum utilization oi.' engine 21 and generator 28. and it is desirable to operate the system as close to this point as possible. Fig. 5a represents an enlargement of the region of characteristic 18 in the immediate vicinity of point 80. In Fig. 5a, point 84 represents the current value corresponding to the value of the current signal at point 15 shown in Fig. 4. Similarly, point corresponds to point 18 of Fig. 4, point 86 corresponds to point 14 of Fig. 4, and point 81 corresponds to point 11 of Fig. 4. Thus, pickup and dropout of relay 41 occur at current values corresponding to points 84 and 85, respectively, of Fig. 5a; similarly, pickup and dropout of relay 46 occur at current values corresponding to points 86 and 81, respectively, of Fig. 5a. The actual current values at which pickup and dropout of relays 48 and 41 occur are controlled by adjustment of resistors 8|, 82, 63 and 64 as previously explained.

Fig. 6 represents an operating characteristic of motor 29 in which motor speed is plotted against motor torque for a number of eld shunting conditions. In particular, curve 88 represents a condition of minimum shunting of series iield 32. In other words, variable shunting resistor 34 is adjusted to its maximum resistance. Curves 89, 88 and 8l represent conditions of increasing amounts oi' shunting, curve 9| representing the condition of maximum shunting, which occurs when resistor 34 is adjusted to its minimum value. The torque values in Fig. 6 correspond to current values on curve 18 in Fig. 5a and are given prime numerals which correspond to numerals used for current values in Fig. 5a. In describing the sequence of operation ci the automatic iield shunting system of our invention, it will be assumed that motor 29 is accelerating load 38 and that initially the motor current is in excess of value 84 of Fig. 5a. Under this condition, relays 46 and 41 of Fig. 3 are both closed. Since contacts 44 of relay 46 are of the normally closed type, when relay 48 is closed con tacts 44 are open and relay 48 and contacts 38 are also open. Since contacts 45 of relay 41 are of the normally open type, when relay 41 is closed contacts 45 are also closed completing the circuit of relav 4I causingr contacts 39 to he closed. Motor 35 is thus energized from direct current source 36 causing rotation oi motor 35 and adjustment oi resistor 34.

Rotation of motor 35 and adjustment of resistor 34 continue until the circuit of motor 35 is interrupted at the limit of adjustment of resistor 34 by a suitable travel-limiting device,

' tion of minimum shunting of eld 32. Under this condition, operation of motor 29 is represented by curve 88. of Fig. 6. As load 30 is accelerated by motor 29, motor current and torque decrease to a value corresponding to point 85 on curve 88, at which point relay 41 opens, causing relay 4I and contacts 39" also to open. Since motor 35 has previously been stopped by travel-limiting device 92, opening of contacts 39 does not aiTect operation of motor 35. The current of 'motor 29 continues to decrease with an accompanying decrease in torque and eventually reaches a value corresponding to point 81' on curve 88. At this point, relay 45 opens causing contacts 44 to close, completing the circuit oi.' relay 49, and causing contacts 38 to be closed energizing motor 35 from direct current source 38. However, iield 31 is energized oppositely to its previous condition of energization, and therefore motor 35 rotates oppositely to its previous direction of rotation. Resistor 34 is therefore adjusted so that the amount of shunting of series field 32 is increased. As eld 32 is shunted, the counterelectromotive force developed by motor 29 is reduced and the motor current is temporarily increased. Motor operation is now represented by curve 89 of Fig. 6. As motor current and torque increase to point 36 on curve 89, relay 46 is closed, causing rotation of motor 35 and adjustment of resistor 34 to be stopped. As motor 29 continues to accelerate load 30, the motor current and torque decrease along curve 89 until point 81 is again reached. At this point, relay 46 will again open, causing motor 35 to resume rotation and further reduce resistance 34 to provide additional shunting of field 32. The motor current and torque are again temporarily increased, and operation of motor 29 is represented by curve 90 of Fig. 6. The process described, comprising opening and closing of relay 48 at predetermined current values 81 and 98, corresponding to motor torques 81 and 86', to elect adjustment of resistance 34, continues in a plurality of relatively small steps as the current varies from value 81 to value 88 on Fig. 5a, until the condition of maximum shunting is achieved as represented by the minimum adjustment of resistance 34. At this point, further rotation of motor 35 and adjustment of resistor 34 are prevented by a suitable travellimiting device such as a limit switch 94 actuated by cam 93 and arranged to interrupt the circuit of motor 35. Operation of motor 29 under these corditions is represented by curve 9| of Fig. 6. It is now assumed that motor 29 is operating on characteristic curve 9| in a condition of maximum field shunting and that an increase in load 30 takes place, accompanied by a corresponding increase in the current of motor 29. As motor current and torque increase to point 84' on curve 9|, relay 41 is closed, causing reverse rotation of motor 35 to occur, with an accompanying reduction in the amount of shunting of eld 32, by increase of resistance 34. The motor current and torque are temporarily reduced to point 85' on curve 98 at which point relay 41 opens, causing rotation of motor 35 and adjustment of resistor 34 to be stopped. The unshunting process continues in a plurality of small steps between points 84 and 85' until a condition of minimum shunting is achieved and motor 29 once again operates along curve 88 of Fig. 6.

It should be understood that for the sake of Fig. 5 and Fig. 5a, is exceedingly small. In other 8 simplicity only a relatively few steps of shunting and unshunting are represented in Fig. 6, while in actual practice the number of such steps will be relatively large. Furthermore, the current differentials causing shunting and unshunting to be initiated and stopped are shown exaggerated in vmagnitude for greater clarity. In actual practice,-these values are made relatively small so that the actual deviation in current value from the desired current value at the point of maximum utilization, as represented by point in words, the regulation of generator current at a point of maximum utilization is accomplished by our invention in a plurality of relatively small steps which maintain the actual current at all times within a relatively narrow band in the region of the desired value. If, on the other hand, shunting or unshunting were accomplished in a single step, considerable upset would result to the system and the shunting operations would not be carried out in a smooth manner, and the current to be regulated would at times vary considerably from the desired value.

While in the embodiment of our invention as set forth above only a single motor, designated by numeral 29, has been shown in order to simplify the drawings and explanation as previously mentioned, it will be understood that a plurality of such motors each including a eld member, such as field 32, may be and usually is employed in applications of systems of the type described, such as, for example, the power system of a Diesel-electric locomotive. Such a plurality of motors may be variously arranged in series, series-parallel, or parallel combinations across the terminals of a generator component, such as generator 28, in accordance with the speed and torque requirements of a driven load, such as load 30. It will be further understood that, in accordance with our invention, in a system including a plurality of motors, a plurality of associated leld-shunting resistors is provided, while the current-measuring signal may be derived from a common current-measuring device such as shunt 3i, said signal being utilized by a common associated control circuit of the type represented in Fig. 3 and previously described.

It will also be understood that while we have shown in the embodiment of our invention a motor of the type having a eld exciting winding connected in series relation with the armature thereof, commonly referred to as a series motor, our invention is in no way restricted to motors of this type and may equally well be employed in connection with motors of the type having eld exciting windings connected in parallel relation with the armatures thereof or having separately energized eld exciting windings, such motors being commonly referred to as shunt motors.

While we have shown and described our invention as applied to a particular system of connections and as embodying various devices diagrammatically shown, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from our invention, and We, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electric power system, the combination of an electric generator, an electric motor having an armature winding and a field exciting winding, said armature winding being connected to said generator, means to measure current supplied to said armature winding by said generator, a pair of amplifying devices each having an input circuit arranged to be energized responsive to the fiow of said current, means responsive to the power output of said amplifiers to vary the excitation of said field exciting winding, one of said amplifiers being connected to increase said excitation responsive to said current, the other of said amplifiers being connected to decrease said excitation responsive to said current.

2. In an electric power system, the combination of an electric generator, an electric motor having an armature Winding and a field exciting winding, said armature winding being adapted to be energized by said generator, means to measure the current supplied to said armature winding by said generator, adjustable means to vary the excitation of said field exciting winding, a pair of amplifying devices, each having an input circuit arranged to be energized responsive to the flow of said current, one of said amplifying devices having an output circuit arranged to vary said adjustable means to initiate a decrease of excitation of said field exciting winding in response to one of a first pair of predetermined values of said current and to arrest said decrease in response to the other of said first pair of predetermined values, the other of said amplifying devices having an output circuit arranged to vary said adjustable means to initiate an increase of excitation of said field exciting winding in response to one of a second pair of predetermined values of said current and to arrest said increase in response to the other of said second pair of predetermined values.

3. In an electric power system, the combination of an electric generator, an electric motor having an armature winding and a field exciting winding, said armature winding being arranged to be energized by said generator, a currentmeasuring device arranged to measure the current supplied to said armature winding, an adjustable resistance connected in parallel relation with said field exciting winding, reversible means to vary said adjustable resistance, means comprising a pair of amplifying devices arranged to utilize a signal from said measuring device to control said reversible means, each of said amplifying devices comprising an input circuit, a bias circuit, a feed-back circuit, and an output circuit, means for supplying unidirectional potential to said bias circuit to control the operating characteristic of said amplifying device, a load impedance connected in said output circuit, said feed-back circuit comprising a resistor connected across said load impedance, and means utilizing a portion of the voltage across said resistor in modify the voltage developed across said load impedance, said input circuit being connecte-:i across said current-measuring device, each of said output circuits including a relay, one of said relays being arranged to control said reversible means to vary said adjustable resistor to initiate a decrease of excitation of said field excitingr winding in response to one of a first pair of prf-- determined values of said current and to arrest said decrease of excitation in response to tie other of said first pair of predetermined values the other of said relays being arranged to control said reversible means t0 Vary said adjustable resistor to initiate an increase of excitation of said eld exciting winding in response to one of a second pair of predetermined values of said current and to arrest said increase of excitation in response to the other of said second pair of predetermined values.

4. In an electric power system, the combination of an electric motor having an armature winding and a field exciting winding, means for energizing said armature winding, means to measure the current supplied to said armature winding, adjustable means to vary the excitation of said field exciting winding, a pair of amplifying devices, each having an input circuit arranged to be energized responsive to the flow of said current, one of said amplifying devices having an output circuit arranged to vary said adjustable means to initiate a decrese of excitation of said field exciting winding in response to the lower of a first pair of predetermined values of said current, and to arrest said decrease in response to the higher of said first pair of predetermined values, the other of said amplifying devices having an output circuit arranged to vary said adjustable means to initiate an increase of excitation of said iield exciting winding in response to the higher of a second pair of predetermined values of said current and to arrest said increase in response to the lower of said second pair of predetermined values, said lower value of said second pair being higher than said higher value of said first pair.

MARTIN A. EDWARDS. CHARLES F. BAUERSFELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 116981288 winne Jan. 8, 1929 Buyko `pr- 21, 

